Current Work and other News

The Animal Earth Summit

- AS DEVISED BY MARY FOR THE INTERNATIONAL E-DAY (ENERGY DAY) EARTH SUMMIT 2009 ON THE ISLES OF SCILLY (see www.e-day.org.uk).

Endangered and threatened animals, birds, reptiles and insects arrive from all over the world to discuss their problems. Fingers, (paws, claws and mandibles) all point to one common troublemaker, Mankind. They tell their stories in poetry, and song. The children create their puppet creatures from research into wildlife and global issues such as climate change and habitat destruction. They write stories and poetry, sing songs and create sets and scenery. They write persuasive speeches and bring their creatures to life. Then they perform an interactive debate to an invited audience.

This is a whole-school project over several days, or can be adapted to a shorter project for fewer classes. This project is very much in line with SEAL approaches.

AGE RANGE: 4 - 12 YEARS. (Enquiries: 01484 685577)

CULTURAL ROUTES

A route map for primary schools to promote identity, cultural diversity and community cohesion.
(As devised with Artforms, and Education Leeds Equality and Entitlement Team, in partnership with the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust.)

Mary worked as a writer, storyteller and puppeteer on this new project which was developed into a guidebook publication for schools and teachers. Cultural Routes is about how to get children to look at their own sense of identity within the community, and as world citizens, through writing, drama, art and puppetry. They research their neighbourhood history, explore their present state of belonging, and their hopes and fears for the future.

They look at issues such as racism and bullying, and the responsibility of each child within their own community, using SEAL principles. They devise their own Community Play on these themes. This project can be booked through Artforms, Education Leeds, with the 3 artists involved, or in a shorter version of the project with just Mary.
( See www.artformsleeds.co.uk.)

Active Learning:
Writing for the Spoken Word

(In partnership with Leeds Artforms and ‘Find your Talent’.)

Mary has been involved in research with other writers and teachers into Oracy, Literacy and the Spoken Word. The project was led by Dr Patrick Ryan (writer and storyteller). This is about how we can inspire children to love stories, to tell stories and above all, how to find their own voice. Projects along these lines are available on request. Projects need developmental time and are best done over several weeks. (Enquiries 01484 685577.)

Special Needs: "Let's Make a Festival!"

Mary created this new project for Special Needs children and adults in Romania recently.

Over a one week period children and adults created a Tribe, and made stories, puppets, masks, shadows, songs, a large dragon, as well as two huge totems poles - and they made food for the Grand Festival Feast.

The Festival itself was a great occasion and lasted 3 hours! This can be re-worked as a shorter project, and would work equally well in mainstream schools.

It could be a whole-school project and involve the full age-range, including parents and grandparents. Available on request. (01484 685577)

Early Years Projects in Various Settings

Several new themed projects have been developed over the last year for Early Years and Family Support Groups in Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland. These include Mini-Beasts, Habitats, Mermaids and Fairies, as well as Nursery Rhymes.

Romania

Unicef

We work for The Muzika Charitable Trust, an arts charity which since 1990 has been sending artists and music, dance and drama therapists out to Romania to work with special needs children, as well as training teachers, carers and psychologists on creative approaches. A few years ago, we ran a course at the Art Therapy Centre, Timisoara, for adults from all over Romania. The theme was 'Storytelling as Therapy', and it was funded by UNICEF. Last summer, we ran a 7 day Summer Camp for disabled children from a centre in Bucharest. The age range was 4 to 24, and we did dance, mask making, puppetry, stories, leading up to a festival.

World Myth and Landscape

Herne the Huntress This is another constantly expanding project. We have been asked to do many residencies on myth and culture from countries as diverse as Australia (aboriginal stories and art), Japan, South America (Incas, Aztecs and Mayans), Classical myths and legends from Greece and Italy, Celtic and Icelandic myths, art and myths from Africa and the Caribbean.

We have found that using Storytelling and Puppetry to explore the relationship between landscape and culture is a dramatic and exciting way to motivate children, and explain the importance of geography and the environment in the making of mythology, art and history.

Greeks And Romans

Myths and Legends Ken has added to his repertoire of ancient Greek myth and legend:

A day long project on the twelve gods of Mount Olympus, and their stories.
‘Transformations’ a series of stories drawn from Ovid’s Metamorphoses.
The story of a retired Roman soldier who was caught up in the horrors of the rebellion of Boudicca.

Mali, Festival of the Niger

Recently, Ken and Mary performed a myth / story (written by Mary) using shadow puppets and masks at the Festival on the Niger, in Mali. The story told how music was created in Mali, long ago. Also how the Kora came into existence – the famous harp-like instrument that has been played for generations in Mali and Guinea. Ken told the story in French. The audience responded enthusiastically, and joined in with all the sound effects.

This is now available for schools that want a shadow puppet workshop and performance as part of a project on Africa. The narration can be done in English as well as French!